Mosiac
News and Information about
Presbyterian Women
and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Her Story: Women of God in the 21st Century
On March 28--30, 2003 Massanetta Springs Conference Center in
Harrisonburg, VA will host the 10th annual HerStory conference.
Sponsored by Shenandoah Presbytery, Massanetta Springs and Mary
Baldwin College, the gathering invites women of faith to grow
in their relationship with God and explore new ways of thinking
about God. The keynote speaker is Reverend Sheila Gustafason,
pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe, NM, who is well
known for her work with the Covenant Network. Workshop topics
include spirituality, liturgical dance, Hildegarde of Bingen,
sacred stories and women ministering to women. Prayer, worship,
singing and opportunities to connect with other women are also
important parts of the conference.
For more information or registration forms contact Dr. Virginia
Francisco, vfrancis@mbc.edu or 540/887-7031.
Looking for Mission Resources?
Friendship Press offers an array of products for individual or
group mission study. They publish books, videos and maps around
themes of cross-cultural understanding, global living, spirituality
and faith, child advocacy, human rights and world peace. The
2001--2002 mission focus is Vietnam, with parts of the curriculum
produced by William Gee and written by Martha Bettis Gee of the
PC(USA).
Visit the Friendship Press Web site at www.ncccusa.org/friend/fphome.html
or order a catalog by calling 800/889-5733.
2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study
Used by thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer, the
Yearbook features hundreds of stories and photographs
of people in mission in the United States and overseas; minutes
for mission; prayer lists; daily lectionary and Sunday lectionary
with suggested hymns; educational and theological institutions
related to the PC(USA); synod and presbytery maps; scripture
passages from the suggested lectionary for each day; and a daily
order of worship for use with the Yearbook.
The theme of the 2003 publication is "The Earth Is the
Lord's and All Those Who Live in It" (Ps. 24:1). Special
features of this 111th edition include a personal message from
the 214th General Assembly Moderator, an essay that introduces
readers to the Mission Yearbookand theme issues addressed
in the stories in this edition and a color insert section "The
Creator, the Creation, and Us," by noted author and theologian
Walter Brueggemann.
To order the 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study,
call Presbyterian Distribution Service (PDS), 800/524-2612,
and ask for item # 70-612-03-449. Copies are $8.50 each for 1--9
copies, $7.50 each for 10 or more copies (shipping not included).
   Who Cares About Her?
The second phase of the national awareness campaign for PW is
ready for distribution!
A set of three posters, each depicting one of the special
offerings collected each year, is now ready to order. These poster
sets are a great way to educate others about the mission work
of PW, and serve as a reminder that Presbyterian Women is a caring
part of the Presbyterian Church's community of faith.
Order the free poster sets by calling Presbyterian Distribution
Service, 800/524-2612; English item
English item # PWR-02-600
Spanish item # PWR-02-601
Korean item # PWR-02-602
Church World Service Moves New Africa Initiative Forward
The international, ecumenical humanitarian agency Church
World Service (CWS) is moving forward with its new Africa Initiative,
through which CWS and its partners will bring increased attention
and resources to the struggles faced by the majority of Africans.
The Africa Initiative will extend over at least five years
and aims to target new resources for maximum impact on a few
significant issues. It will work with African national councils
of churches and other partners to build, improve and expand their
humanitarian services, institutions and leadership.
The CWS Africa Initiative will target three particularly vulnerable
populations---children, people living with HIV/AIDS and uprooted
peoples, including refugees, migrants and internally displaced
persons. It will focus on three root causes of hunger and poverty
affecting these vulnerable groups---violence, conflict, peace
and reconciliation; water, health and food security; globalization
and poverty reduction. It will also give attention to the needs
and rights of African women and girls, who long have faced discrimination
and violence.
CWS is developing the new Africa Initiative in extensive consultation
with its African partners---most recently, at its September meeting
in Nairobi, Kenya, with the general secretaries and chairpersons
of the sub-regional and national ecumenical councils of 31 countries
in sub-Saharan Africa.
The CWS Board of Directors reviewed the evolving initiative
at its fall meeting, held October 2223, 2002 in South Bend,
IN, and gave its unanimous support. Formal launch of the Africa
Initiative is set for January 2004. Throughout 2003, CWS will
work to enlist United States denominational support and will
hold a series of follow-up planning meetings with African church
leaders.
Domestic Violence Resources Available
Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network (PADVN), a network
of the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association
(PHEWA), has released a free packet of worship and study aids
to help congregations break the silence about domestic violence
and to help persons begin the process of healing. The packet
includes liturgical resources and the study material that was
part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s policy statement on
healing domestic violence, "Turn Mourning Into Dancing!"
To order a set of these resources contact Terri Gilmore, 888/728-7228,
ext. 8100 or tgilmore@ctr.pcusa.org.
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